(3) 4-6 Epic Series of Failures series. Luckless Chicago kid Greg discovers his Dwarf lineage through a resurgence of ancient magic that will soon cripple all technology. Guided by a talking ax, Greg tries to rescue his kidnapped father and ease tensions with his Elf best friend before Dwarves and Elves declare all-out war. Fans of Percy Jackson will enjoy the folkloric adventure, offbeat humor, strong friendships, and intriguing magic of this new series.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Borlen (a.k.a. Grump) is not a normal dwarf living underground: he fears depths and longs to explore the surface. But in the world above he becomes ensnared by an evil queen intent on killing her stepdaughter, Snow White. Shurtliff (Rump; Jack; Red) includes inventive details (such as gemstone flavors) as she successfully explores themes of friendship and belonging in another fresh fairy-tale reimagining.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Extraordinary Journeys of Clockwork Charlie series. Fleeing London, clockwork boy Charlie (The Kidnap Plot) heads to Wales with a warning for his murdered father's friend. Separated from his traveling companions, Charlie teams up with a band of dwarfs in a race to arrive before the evil organization that killed his father does. A worthy sequel chock-full of intricate world-building, plot twists, and an amusing assortment of new and familiar characters.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lee Wildish. A witch arrives at twelve-year-old William's cottage and then threatens his little brother, leading William to complete his late father's quest and solve the witch's riddles to rescue his mother from an enchanted sleep. William's ally, humorously eccentric dwarf Tuli, is an effective counterpoint to the witch's eerie menace, while echoes of "Sleeping Beauty" enliven this highly inventive tale pitched toward middle-grade readers.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Translated by Anthea Bell. Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. A bad fairy enslaves young Jacob, then turns him into a hideous dwarf. He befriends a goose--who is really an enchanted girl--and they work together to free themselves. The lengthy text is crisp; Zwerger's spare artwork employs gentle lines and colors that often carry frightful, haunting undertones.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Raphaëlle Barbanègre. In Cali's spin on the classic fairy tale, Snow White keeps house for seventy-seven obliviously unhelpful dwarfs, all portrayed--to wonderful effect--in a rainbow palette. With all the laundry, individual bedtime stories, "beard maintenance," and so on, Snow White decides "to leave and take her chances with the witch." It's brilliant dark humor that will resonate more with parents than kids.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) YA Washed-up British YA author Philip Murdstone is pressured by his agent to write something she can sell: high fantasy. Horrified at the prospect and in a drunken stupor, the old man has a vision of a Phantasy epic and makes a Faustian deal with a dwarfish stranger. Clearly adult-aimed but with appeal for mature teen fans, Peet's raunchy dark comedy brilliantly satirizes publishing.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 Adventurers Wanted series. Young wizard Alex (Slathbog's Gold) embarks on another quest, this time a search for the tomb and lost treasures of Albrek the dwarf. Fans can look forward to more magical adventures and the continued development of Alex's magical powers. Static supporting characters don't add to the action, but Alex is a dynamic main character with an appealing sense of honor and adventure.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Foote. To dispel romantic notions about fairies, narrator Miss Edythe McFate supplies grotesque descriptions and grim cautionary anecdotes about the creatures, all accompanied by appropriately dark and spiky illustrations. Lots of folkloric information is provided, along with some modern-sounding details (e.g., thieves being punished with flying snot). After all that, the assertion that we should attempt to help fairies flourish is perplexing.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ross Collins. This follow-up to The Robe of Skulls and The Bag of Bones finds Gracie Gillypot trapped underground in the world of dwarfs and trolls. Talking bats, ogres, and other fantastical creatures also come into play as heroic Prince Marcus tries to save Gracie and restore order. As usual for this series, exciting action and entertaining humor abound.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(2) YA Sixteen-year-old Cameron, diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob (a.k.a. mad cow) disease, goes on a mission to save the world--or does he? Bray gleefully tosses a hallucinogenic mix of elements into the adventure. Their origins can be found in Cameron's pre-diagnosis life, begging the question: even if Cameron's experiences are a dream, are they any less real? Readers will enjoy trying to sort everything out.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2009

(4) YA Overworked and underappreciated, jester Conrad longs to be free of his master. He runs off, accompanied by his (disguised) servant girlfriend. Medieval lingo abounds (this jester, it seems, never stops performing), which will tire all but the most devoted Renaissance Faire–goer, but the offbeat perspective may interest genre fans.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) YA Damosel, a Lady of the Lake, and Twixt, a dwarf, alternate accounts of the rise and fall of King Arthur. Although Damosel begins as an amusing magical creature with a penchant for obscure rules, the bland plot soon overpowers character development.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) K-3 Angelino, a small giant, is the same size as Osvaldo, a big dwarf. They become friends after leaving their respective villages, where they were ostracized for looking different. When a war breaks out between the giants and the dwarfs, the friends find a surprisingly simple way to bring about peace. The gentle illustrations full of muted secondary hues take the edge off the too-allegorical plot.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Translated by Harold D. Morgan. Illustrated by Robert Ingpen. A homely but virtuous dwarf enchants a group of crystal-mining dwarfs with his gift for poetry, while a greedy, "stinky old troll" tries to do the same but ultimately sees his true disagreeable nature reflected back at him. Ingpen's art, which incorporates silver foil, captures the cave dwellers' craggy features and the rich, earthy colors of their mountain environment.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Giselle Potter. Adapted from Hegi's adult novel Stones from the River, this is a fablelike tale of a young dwarf who tries everything to grow, until she meets an adult dwarf--a circus lion-tamer--who teaches her self-acceptance. Potter's gouache illustrations are whimsical but respectful of the mostly serious story, which nevertheless doesn't seem to find itself at home in the picture book format.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton